EDMONTON — In a partial policy reversal, Alberta's government said Tuesday it will cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations for health-care workers.
Maddison McKee, spokesperson to Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange, said in an email that COVID-19 vaccine coverage will be extended to all health-care workers this fall under the first phase of the province's vaccination rollout.
"Immunization will remain voluntary," said McKee.
It comes two months after the government said most Albertans, including health workers, would have to pay for COVID-19 shots this season.
Public health experts and health-care unions called it irresponsible to force front-line workers to pay for protection in the workplace.
Premier Danielle Smith has said the aim of the new policy is to prevent wastage, after some $135 million was spent on unused doses. She's also pointed out that other vaccinations come with an out-of-pocket fee.
The government did not immediately respond to questions about what prompted the shift.
The Health Sciences Association of Alberta is one of several unions representing health-care workers that have been publicly pressing the government for months.
President Mike Parker said his members demanded the change at the bargaining table, but the government decided to make it a blanket policy instead. The union reached a new tentative agreement last week with employers on wages and benefits, but it is yet to be ratified.
"This is both in the interest of our members and the public to make sure that these folks stay healthy and on the job," Parker said.
"I'm pleased to see that it's now going to be inclusive of all health-care workers from the work that we did."
Parker said the government's next step should be allowing everyone to get vaccinated, if they want, free of charge.
The government hasn't finalized how much other Albertans will need to pay, but an estimated cost to buy each shot is $110.
The province said in June those who have compromised immune systems, people on social programs and seniors in congregate settings will be covered.
Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called on the United Conservative Party government to give the shot to all seniors at no cost.
"They continue to make this up as they go along. Albertans deserve better than this incompetence and confusion," he said in a statement Tuesday.
Last week, the government opened online pre-ordering for the COVID-19 vaccine alongside flu shots. Albertans still need to book appointments for the shots, starting in October.
Those who don't pre-order by a Sept. 30 deadline can still book an appointment once doses become available.
However, the specifics of the qualifying health conditions for a free shot have not been released.
LaGrange's office has said details of the plan are still being finalized -- including the updated vaccination schedule, eligible conditions, exact locations and administrative fee for COVID-19 vaccines.
The province said it has ordered 485,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine for the fall -- about 250,000 fewer doses than were administered last year.
The federal government put provinces in charge of buying COVID-19 shots this year, but Alberta's COVID-19 policy makes it an outlier.
The province has said local pharmacies will no longer get a supply of COVID-19 shots, which will only be available through public health clinics through a phased delivery.
The government has said the new approach would help it better know what to order in coming years.
Public health-care experts have also said the province's COVID-19 strategy will create more barriers to getting vaccinated and lead to higher health-care system costs, as more people develop severe complications.
Critics have also warned that excluding pharmacies from the rollout will limit access for rural residents, shift workers and others who rely on community-based care.
Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that all adults 65 or older and health-care workers get the shot.
Routine influenza vaccines continue to be publicly covered.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
